Car body bolster



Oct. 4, 1938. c. c; DURYEA CAR BODY BOLSTER Filed July 30, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet l QQOOG Oct. 4, 1938. o. c, DURYEA CAR BODY HOLSTER Filed July so, 195e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 o. c, DURYEA 2,132,232

CAR BODY BOLSTER Filed July Z50, 1936 4 Sheets-5heet 5 Oct. 4, 1938.

3 @n s /S O /QR O www Oct. 4, 1938. o, Q DURYEA 2,132,232

CAR BODY BOLSTER Filed July 50, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 4, 1938 PATENT oFFl-CE CAB BODY BOLSTER Otho C. Dnryea,

Waterbury, Conn., assignor lto 0. C. Duryea Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 30,

14 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in` car body bolsters and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The car ,body bolster with which the present invention is more particularly concerned, is of the kind used in the we1l-known Duryea type of underframe. In such underframes, there is no rigid connection between the bolster and the center sill. The center sill in such underframes passes freely through openings provided therefor in the body bolster, the connection being through cushion gears arranged between the sill and holsters. Heretoi'ore, such bolsters were made either as an integral casting or they were built up from prefabricated plates and a center brace casting riveted together. Both the cast bolster and the rlveted bolster are objectionable in certain respects.

Cast bolsters of this type are heavy and the cost is high. In the riveted bolster, overlapping joints are used and this necessitates care in matching up the holes in the overlapped parts and diillculties are encountered in making tight rivets. Also, inside corner seams are present in which water may lodge and thus start bolster corrosion. Again, the rivet heads on the top of the bolster require routing out of the car flooring to accommodate such heads and this, of course, adds to the expense.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a body bolster of the kind adapted for use in the Duryea type underframe and which avoids the objectionable features oi' the 'cast and the riveted holsters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bolster of this kind which is simple in design, lighter in weight than the cast or riveted bolster and which at the same time shall provide ample strength and rigidity in the finished bolster.

Another object of the invention is to provide a built-up body bolster construction wherein the parts are so formed and so correlated that they can be secured together by butt welding, thus eliminating overlapping joints and rough edges and corners.

A further object of the invention is to provide Y a bolster of this kind having ageneral box-like cross section and formed with openings in the di-y aphragm or shear resisting walls for the passage of the center sill, the bolster beingl braced in thevi'cinity of said openings so as to resist all stresses and strains imposed thereon in use for its intended purpose.

The above mentioned objects o! the invention, as well as others, together with the several ad- 1936, Serial No. 93,435

(Cl. 10S-228) -vantages thereof will more fully appear as 1 proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in top plan and rtly in horizontal section of a car bolster embo ng 6 the preferred form of the invention, the plane o! the section being indicated by the line |I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the bolster with parts at the left hand end thereof shown as 10 broken away better to disclose the interior construction thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section through the bolster on an enlarged scale as taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1; 1

Fig. 4 is a. vertical section through the outer end of the torque arm connection of the bolster, also on an enlarged scale and as taken on the line k4-I of Fis. 1; y

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section through 20 an end portion of the bolster in the plane of the side bearing bracket, as indicated by the line I--l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a detail transverse vertical sectional view through a part of the bolster in the plane of. 25 one of the sill openings, as taken on the line l--l of Fig. 2; f

Fig. '1 is a detail horizontal sectional view through a part ofthe bolster as taken on the line 'i--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig.` 8 is a perspective view oi' one o! the pressedvpan-like halves ofthe bolster, after the associated bracing and stiening parts have been assembled and secured in place therein;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of one 35 of the panlike halves of the bolster, illustrating a modiiled formo( structure l'which may be advantsseowly employed:

Fig. 10 is'A a detail vertical sectional view throughspartofthebolsterastakenontheline 4.o Ill-il of Fig. 3;

vFig. 11 is another vertical sectional view through the-bolster as taken on the line II--li of Fig. 3- and with the center plate omitted;

-1l1g 12 is a cross section through a part oi the 45 bolstenlllustrating one form of the box-like section `that may be employed in the improved bolster;

Fig. 18 is .a view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating a modified form of box-like .section which may be'4 50 advantageously employed in the bolster and which will be more fully referred tolater; y

Fig. 14 is another view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating a further modified form of'box-like section which also may be advantageously employed 55 in the bolster and which will also be more fully referred to later; l

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 12 illustrating still a further modified form of box-like section which will be more fully referred to later;

Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view showing the structure of a butt weld employed between two right angled parts embodied in the bo'lster, and

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view through another form of weld which is advantageously employed in the bolster and which will be more fully referred to later. d

In general, the bolster embodies a pair of matched pan-like front and rear halves, each of substantially a channel-likey cross section and each including a vertical diaphragm or shear resisting web, a top horizontal flange-like tension member and a bottom flange-like compression member. The mid portion of the compression member is parallel with the tension member but the ends of said compression member incline upwardly and outwardly so that the bolster tapers toward its ends. Also, the diaphragm tapers toward the ends so that each half is wider at the mid portion than it is at its ends. g

At the mid portion of the diaphragxrof each "pan, aseach bolster half will hereinafter be referred to for brevity in expression, are aligned rectangular openings, spaced equidistant on each side of the transverse median line of the bolster. These openings accommodate the free. passage therethrough of the center sill of the car. Due to the presence of these openings, certain stiifening elements and braces are employed at said mid portions to strengthen and reinforce the pans in the vicinity of the openings so that the bolster is not weakened by the presence of said openings. Certain of the elements associated with the rear pan project outwardly beyond its diaphragm to provide a connection for the springs of the gear which cushion the relative movement between bolster and sill in use. Certain of the elements associated with the front pan, also project outwardly beyond its diaphragm to provide the connectlon for one end of the torque arms, therother, end of which is adapted for connection with an end sillforming a part of the car structure.

After the stifiening and bracing elements mentioned have been secured in position in their respective pans, the top and bottom flanges providing the tension and compression members respectively, as well as certain" of the end wall members, are matched in edge-to-edge engagement and welded together to form the body ofi' the bolster.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figs. l to 8 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, the improved bolster comprises essentially, a pair of elongated pans lliiand I6 respectively. The pans which are of a channel-like cross section, comprise vertically disposed webs H and I l respectively, forming the shear resisting diaphragms of the bolster, horizontal top flanges I9 and 20 respectively, forming the tension member of the bolster and horizontal bottom flanges 2i and 22 respectively, forming the compression member of the bolster. At the mid portion of the pans, the shear resisting diaphragms I1 and I8 are parallel. From the ends of said mid portion, they taper in opposite directions toward the plane of the free edges of the associated top and bottom flanges. The flanges I9 and 20 are fiat from end-to-end, but the flanges 2i and 22 taper upwardly from the ends of said mid portion toward the plane of the aisaasa anges I! and 2l. At the ends of the pans are formed end walls 23 and 24 respectively.

The end walls 23-24 and the ends oi' the members I9-20 of both pans are provided with suitable holes for the rivets by which the ends of the finished bolster body are attached to the side sills of the associated underframe. In the outer ends of the members 2I22 or both pans near said end walls, are recesses which in the finished body bolster, coact to form openings 2la' as best appear at the left hand end of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. These openings give access for spotting the before-mentioned rivets in place and permit the application' of a bucker to said rivets during the upsetting thereof.

' The pans which are alike and will therefore match, are made either entirely'or partly as steel stampings from the same set of dies. When said pans are assembled together as will later appear, they form a hollow body having a general boxlike cross section. The edges of the flanges |I-2O and 2I22 along with the edges oi' the end wall 22-24 may be bevelled on as best shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 6 so that when butted together. they form a welding groove for a purpose later to appear.

In the mid portion of each diaphragm and spaced equal distances upon each side of the transverse median line thereof, coincident with the center of the center sill of the car, is a pair of rectangular openings 25-26 respectively. In the finished bolster, the openings in said diaphragms align so that center sill members 21 and 2l respectively, may pass therethrough. As best shown in Fig. 2, each sill member isin the form of a channel with its web arranged vertically and with its flanges facing outwardly. In the vicinity of the bolster, the edges of the flanges in each sill member have a plate l29 welded thereto to give it a hollow box-like section at this point.

' The openings 25-26 are so arranged verticallyA that the bottom edges thereof are closer to the members 2|-22 than the top edges are to the members I0-2II.

l The sides of the openings in the rear half, or pan II of the bolster body. are formed by inner and outer upright stiil'ener plates $0 and Il respectively, the front edges of which are arranged in the plane of the edges of the associated members I9 and 2i. The top edge of the inner and outer plates I0 and 3| terminate in the plane oi' the top edges of the openings 28 and the bottom edges of said plates rest upon the member 2l. 'I'he outer comer of each plate I0, at the inner end thereof, is bevelled oil' as at Ila in Fig. I for a purpose later to appear. 'I'he inner plates Il are each provided with an outer end extension 22 of a height to pass through and outwardly beyond -mentioned is operatively connected to the bolster.

'I'he outer plates Il' of the pan I5 have no extension corresponding to those on the inner plates. A line of welding Il follows the bottom edges of both plates Il where they engage the member 2|. 'I'he outer end of each plate 2| extends into the diaphragm opening 2i but not through the same so as to lap'against that edge of the diaphragmdening the outer edge of the opening 2l as best in Fig. 17. Another line of welding lla is then made along the edges of said plateli and said edge of the opening and then an inner line of welding lib is run in along the inside corner as denned by the right angle surfaces of the said plate 8l and diaphragm I1. 'Ihese two welds which best appear in Fig. 1'7, provide a lap weld instead of a butt weld at this point. The plates n n are welded lacross 'the ends and along one side as at ll to the extensions 32--32 and diaphragm i1.

Between the inner stiilener plates, in a plane midway between the diaphragm i1 and the plane of the edges of the members I! and 2| is an upright, longitudinal stiifener plate or strut which is welded at its bottom edge and at its ends to the member 2| and to said inner plates I0 as indicated at Il in Fig. 7. A second upright longitudinal stiifener plate or strut 39 is welded as at ll at its bottom and at its ends to the member 2l and to the inner margins oi said inner plates 8| respectively. This plate I9 yis of the same height as the plates IMI and l1, before mentioned. so that the top edges ofY all of said plates are in the same horizontal plane. The plate I9 is formed at a pointbetween'its ends with a curved portion Ii. This curved portion opens into a recess 42 in the member 2l to form opening in the bolster bottom to receive the king or center pin of the truck (not shown). Said curved portion Ii extends part way up the plate 3l from its bottom edge asappears in Fig. 3. The upright stiirener plates mentioned, function as shear resisting struts as is'apparent.

Engaged upon .the top edges voi' the upright plates lL-Ii, 31 and` is is a horizontal top plate Il. This top plate is welded t the top edges of said upright plates as at Il an the inner face of the diaphragm member l1 as at 4l. Between said top plate and the tension flange Il and arranged in the planes of the stitlener plates l1 and Il are other stiifener plates 46 and 41 respectively. Said plates lt--I have downwardly facing end hooks which engage the upper end portions of the outer/plates 3i but only the hooks a of the plate 4l appear as in Fig. 11. These plates webs between said top plate 4l and the top ange vthe outer upright plates II-II to form a strong rigid structure above each sill opening.

A suitable distance outwardly from the outer plate Il, I provide in each pan an upright rib plate Il which is welded as at 50 along one vertical edge and its two horizontal edges to the dia-- phragm I1 and to the members or anges I9 and Il respectively. Said ranged substantially in or near the planes oi.' the side bearings to form stiffening members for the side bearings of the finished bolster.

0n the outer surface of the diaphragm I1 and spaced longitudinally outward from each sill opening I! in said web are welded angle brackets il. Upon these brackets certain supports (not shown) are engaged and upon which the flooring of the associated car body to be supported by the bolster. is secured in place. In said diaphragm These openings -flange ll which pan II of the bolster are formed one-half the disalsoweldedto function as shear resisting ribs or midway between the top and bottom horisontai y parallel portions of the members LII and Il'and within the planes of the brackets just above mentioned,'are openings are intended for use in the finished bolster for the passage of the usual train hues and brake rods bolster. Each opening is dened by an inturned rigldiiles that part of the diaphragm in'which the opening is formed.

On the outer surface oi' the diaphragm near its bottom edge and arranged in the plane of the plates II-IS, are welded short channel brackets 5l and 56. Each bracket has an inclined bottom and this inclination corresponds to the inclination of the compression member 2i at this point. The purpose of these brackets is to permit the attachment of a part of the associated side bearing (not shown).

The sides of the openings in the front half or by inner and outer plates lil and Il arranged in the vertical planes of the inner and outer plates 31| and 4l before mentioned. The inner plates l0 have inner end portions of the same height as the plates Il and/they are welded to the associated pan along a line il following about the' bottom and up along the vertical edges thereof where they engage the diaphragm. The outer plates Si are notched at the bottom as at 83 (see Fig. 6) so as to straddle ythat part of the diaphragm defining the bottom of the sill openings and each plate has an extension portion M of a height approximating the full height of the diaphragm of the pan at this point. The top and bottom ends of these extensions arebent outwardly as iianges or wings Il and B1 by which certain torque arms or the bolster and later to be described, are attached to the bolster. These parts of said extensions above and below the sill openings are welded as at 6l to the parts of the diaphragm with which they are engaged. The inner the inner end thereof, is bevelled off as at Gla in Fig. 'I for a purpose later toappear.

Between the inner stiffener plates 60--60 of the rear pan, in a plane midway between the diaphragm I8 and the plane of the edges of the flanges -2, is an upright stiflener plate 6l. This plate is welded at its bottom and side edges to the bottom iiange 22 and to the plates Il respectively. The welding mentioned appears at 10 in Fig. '7. 1

A second upright stifl'ener plate 1| is welded as at 1 la along its bottom and at its ends to the inner margins of the flange v22 and of the inner plates 60. This plate 1I is of the same height as the plates i-GI and 68 before mentioned, so that the top edges of all of said plates are in the samehorizontal plane. The plate 1i isformed at a point between its ends with a curved portion 12. Said curved portion opens into a recess Il in the member 22 to opening in the finished bolster bottom to receive the king or" center pin before mentioned, but not shown herein. This curved portion extends part way up the plate from its bottom edge as appears in Figs. 3 and 8.

Engaged upon the top edges oi the plates "--v 89-1i and those parts of the plates 0i within the pan 'IB is a horizontal top plate 1l. This top plate is welded to the* top edges of the upright plates as at Il and is also welded to the inner face of the diaphragm member i8 as at 1l. Bletween the top` plate 1I and the tension flange 20 and arranged in the plane of the stiener plates corner of each plate 6|, at

form the other half of the' lZ-ll as appears `in 2.

(not shown) through thev 69 and 1| are other stiifener plates 11 and Il respectively. These plates include end hooks similar to those 16a before mentioned and which are welded to the upright plates SI-BI. The plates *i1-18 i'unction as shear resisting ribs or webs between the top plate I4 and the flange or member 20 and are welded thereto as at 69. The hooks mentioned in connection with the plates 'I1-18 appear in dotted lines as at 11a in Fig. 10. It is to be borne in mind that the plates mentioned are welded in place during their assembly within the pan.

As best. appears in Fig. 8, the top plate 1I terminates at its ends in the plane of the outer plates 6|-6|. However, this top plate may be formed with upwardly inclined extensions 14a beyond the outer plates 6| and these extensions may be welded at their end edges to the underside oi.' the tension flange 20 as best appears in 'Hb in Fig. 9. When the structure shown in Fig.' 9 is employed, the plates 'l1-18 may terminate in the plane of the plates 6|-6| and thus be devoid of the hooks Ila before mentioned or should it be desired to retain said hooks, suitable openings or recesses may be formed in the extensions ila to accommodate the passage of the same therethrough.

In Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive oi' the drawings, the welds heretofore described are all shown as conventional right angle corner welds, wherein one of the parts has a bevelled edge to form the welding groove when said edge is engaged against another part. In Fig. 16 I have shown a form of weld `which may be advantageously employed to prevent blowing through of the fused welding metal in making the welds. In said iigure assume that the part 60a corresponds to one of the stiifener plates 60 and the part 69a corresponds to the right angled plate 69. Under such conditions, the edge of the part 69a is bevelled as at 69h and instead oi' said bevelled surface terminating as a sharp edge, that side of said part opposite said surface is offset to form a thickened backing ange 69e forengagement with the face oi' the part 60a. When the weld 10a is made, the flange 69e prevents the fused welding metal from blow-1 ing through and behind the part 89a so that a smooth perfect bond results, without hairline ilssures therein, where harmful cracks may start.

A suitable distance outwardly from the outer plates 6|, I provide in each pan I6 an upright rib plate which is welded as at 8i along one vertical edge and its two horizontal edges to the diaphragm I8 and to the members 20 and 22 respectively.

These rib plates 80 are so disposed that when the two pans are brought togetherfor welding as will later appear, they will line up with the plates 49 in the pan l5 and thus coact therewith in stiifening the bolster in the plane of the associated side bearings.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a conventional transverse section through a part of one form of the finished bolster. It is to be noted from said gure that the metal in both diaphragms is oi the same thickness as that in the members I9-2| and members 20-22 respectively. The reason therefor is that each pan is made of a gauge suitable to resist the strains fand stresses the tension and compression members ot the finished bolster are to bear. By reason of the vertical disposition of the diaphragms, this gauge of metal is more than sufllcient for said diaphragms. In order to reduce weight and cost, the same thick-ness of the members |9--2l and 20-22 may be attained with a thinner diaphragm as for instance as shown in Fig. 13. In that ilgure it is to be noted that the two pans as a whole are made of a lighter gauge metal and on the inside of the members Isa-2in and 20a-22a, strip plates lh-2lb and 20h and 22h respectively are welded.

The plates 2lb-22h are welded to the members 2ML-22a as at Zic-22e while the plates lib-20h are welded to the members vlila-21m as at llc and 20c respectively, 'Ihe welds are disposed -at the inside corners of the respective pans and it is intended that they be of such a cross section as to extend a short distance beyond the inside curve of the associated comer. This will eliminate any hinge action at the comers between the diaphragm of the pans forming the body of the bolster and the associated tension and compression members. 'I'he strips lsb-2lb and 20h- 22h project laterally beyond the edges of the associated members I9a-2Ia and 20a-22a. In the welding oi the two pans together to form the bolster body, the edges ofthe plates I9b-2Ib and 20b and 22b are brought into butting relation. This spaces the opposed edges of the ilanges i9a-2Ia and 20a-22a a slight distance apart to expose margins of said plates. These edges and the margins oi' the stifl'ener plates coact to form a groove in which lines of welding iSd-20d may be laid to not only join the said edges together but also to join said edges to said plate margins and to Join said margins together.

The plates lsb-2lb and 20h-22h extend substantially the length oi' the bolster body. 'I'he margins thereof before mentioned, which pro'- vide the bottom of the welding grooves also serve to prevent the blowing through oi' the fused welding metal in making the said welds iSd- 20d which also extend substantially the full length of the bolster body. It is apparent that with the construction described, the required thickness ol stock and requisite strength may be provided in the tension and compression members, while using diaphragms which are reduced in .thickness relative to that of said tension and compression members. Ii' desired, the flanges 21m- 22a may be formed with lines oi' openings to expose portions of the plates 20h-22h and then spot welds 20a: and 22.1: (see Fig. 13) are made in said openings to further secure said members and plates together.

Instead oi using the'extra plates` lsb-2lb and 20h and 22h, in the forming of the pans, a slightly heavier gauge metal maybe employed and the tension and the compression members may be formed by turning portions thereof back and preferably upon themselves to form the double thickness tension and compression members Isc-Zie and 20e-22e respectively, as shown in Fig. 14. The edges of said flanges I 9e-2le and 20e-22e respectively, lare welded as at ISI-2|! and 20j and 22! at the side corners of the pans. In making said welds, it is desired that they be of such size as to lap upon the inner flat faces of the diaphragms. In turning the metal u nder as a flange, this leaves the edges of each pan in a rounded condition. Therefore, when said edges are in abutting relation, preparatory to the welding operation which joins them intoa bolster body, the said rounded edges coact to deilne a good welding groove to receive the lines oi' welding as shown in Fig. 14.

In Fig. 15 is illustrated a further modified form of structure for the box-like structure of the body of the bolster. In said ligure, Iig-.zig and 20g-22g indicate the tension and comprese sion flanges or members respectively and Ilg and |60 indicate the diaphragms of the respective pans. It is of course understood that the tension and compression members, as well as the diaphragm of each pan, are all made of the same gauge stock.

` Upon the top surfaces of the compression members 20g-22g, there are welded as at 20h-22h., stiffener plates 20i--22i. These plates are wider than their associated flanges 20g-22g so that when arranged with their edges in abutting relation, this spaces the edges of the flanges 20g-22g apart to form a groove in which a line of welding 20k is laid to join the associated parts together as explained in connection with Fig. 13.

As to the members ISU-2| g, they are a trifle wider than the members 20g-22g. Instead of using extra stiifener plates on the underside of the members |9g-2Ig` as in Fig. 13, it is practical to make use of the bolster cover plate as the reinforcing means. In said Fig. 15, the parts of the cover plates are indicated at ISL-2li respectively, and these are spaced apart at their adjacent edges to expose parts of the members Isa-ZIQ and thus form a welding groove. In this groove is laid a line of welding |9111. which joins said cover plate parts together and to the members I9g-2Ig. The cover plates are further welded to the upper corners of the respective pans as at I9n--2In respectively. With such an arrangement, the bolster cover plate acts as a reinforcement for the tension member as a whole for the bolster body.

After the parts before mentioned have been Welded in assembled relation in their respective pans I5 and I6, said pans are brought together with the edges of the tension and the compression members of one pan abutting those of the other pan. These edges are then welded as at and |0| respectively, and said lines of Weldlng extend the full length of the bolster and down the ends thereof. Of course, before these welding operations are carried out, the pans are suitably positioned to assure the registration or alignnlient of the plates :I0-3| with the plates 60 and After the two pans have been welded tog/ether as before mentioned, a center sill guide bar 'I 02 is positioned in each corner as defined by the outer surfaces of the upright stiffener plates 30--30 and 60- 60 and the top plates 43--43 and I4-14 of both pans and then lines of welding |03 are made to secure said bars in place. These bars are each of a rectangular cross section so as to fit snugly in their respective corners and they are of such length as to have a considerable overlap with respect to the plates they engage. These bars not only act as guides for the center sillmembers 21--28 but they assist in connecting the pans I5-I6 together at these points. It is pointed out that in the application and welding of said bars, this is performed through the openings 25--26 in the pan members which give complete access thereto.

To form a bearing for the center sill member and to brace the bottom mid portion of the bolster parts and to tie them more securely together at this point, I provide in the spaces between the inner and outer plates 30-60 and 3|-6I of both pans. a member |04. This member is preferably in the formof a lengthof channelbar. Each member is shown herein as arranged longitudinally of the bolster with its flanges |05 facing downwardly and engaged with and welded to both compression vmembers 2I--22 by lines of welding |06. These flanges are of such height as to bring the web |01 thereof substantially flush with the bottom edges of the openings 25?-26. Lines of welding |08-I 09 are made to secure the ends of said channels to the plates 30-60 and 3|6|.

The upright edges of the plates 30--60 and 3|6| respectively, are brought right to the plane of the edges of the tension and the cornpression members respectively, of both pans so that they substantially engage.

With the edges of said plates arranged in engagement as described, the bevelled edges 30a and Gla define grooves in which lines of welding 30h and Gib are laid to weld said plates together at their meeting edges. 'Ihe grooves 30a are accessible for welding through the sill openings in the pan I5 and the grooves 60a are accessible for welding through the sill openings in the pan I6. It is preferable that said lines of welding be made before the bars |02 and the channel members |04 have been welded in position.

Either before or after the pans I5 and I6 have been welded together, I provide on the outer faces of the diaphragms I1 and I8, above the sill openings 25-26 on the plane of the top plates 43, the solid bars IIO and III respectively. The bar IIO (see Fig. is of a length to extend between the planes of the upright stiffener plates 3I3I and is of a greater depth at its mid portion to form opposed shoulders II2 which engage the top ends of the plate extensions 32 and the center sill guide bars |02. The bar' I0 is welded at its edges to the associated diaphragm II.

The bar III is of such a length as to extend between the extensions 64 of the plates 6| and is welded at its edges to the diaphragm I8. The bars ||0|I| act to form the so-called oversolid "stops against which certain stop shoulders (not shown) on the sill engage at the limit of the cushioned movement between the center sill and bolster.

After the bolster has been thus far assembled, it is turned bottom up and a center plate |I3 is arranged in position. This plate forms part of the center bearing between the car body bolster and associated truck bolster (not shown). It is made as a relatively thick metal disc having a center hole I|4 which lines up with the center pin opening in the bolster as provided by the parts 4I42 and 'l2- 13 respectively. The upper corner edges of the center plate are bevelled off as best appears in Fig. 3 to provide a welding groove in which annular lines of welding II5 and ||6 are formed to operatively secure the plate to the bolster.

As before mentioned, the bolster is of the kind embodying torque resisting arms whereby the bolster is connected either to an end sill of the underframe or to a cross bearer thereof. As shown herein, the bolster is of the kind wherein the torque arms are adapted for attachment to the pan I6 either before or after the two pans I5 and I6 are welded together. y

In the present instance, said arms will be de scribed as attached to the pan I5 after it has been welded to the pan I6 but this is not to be considered in the restrictive sense.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 3, 85--85 indicate as a whole a pair of laterally spaced torque arms, each of a truss formation and comprising upper and lower arm members 86 and 81 respectively. Each arm member is preferably made of angle bar. In the case of the angle bars forming the top arm members 86, thetop horizontal fianges face outwardly and the vertical iianges face downwardly. I'he arm members 86 are arranged in a horizontal plane extending at a right angle to the pan and the inner ends of the angle bars thereof, abutt and are welded as at 88 to the top end edges oi the plate `extensions 64 and to the wings 66 thereon, before mentioned.

In the case of the angle bars forming the bottom arm members 81, the bottom horizontal flanges face outwardly and the vertical flanges face upwardly. 'I'he arm members 81 are each welded at their inner ends as at 89 to the bottom end edges of the plate extensions 64 and to the wings 61 thereon, before mentioned.

The arm members 81 extend upwardly and outwardly from their inner end, toward their outer end and have horizontal outer end parts meeting in abutting relation with the outer end parts oi the top arm members, the vertical flanges of the angle bars of both arm members being butt welded together as at in Fig. 4. At the outer ends of said arms the vertical anges of the angle bars of both arm members are ridged or corrugated as at 9| in Fig. 1. Said outer ends of said arm members are connected by a transverse bracket 92. The mid portion of said bracket is disposed in the plane of the top surfaces of the horizontal anges of the top arm members 86 and is adapted for engagement and securement to an associated end sill 85a of the car structure (see Fig. 3).

The end portions of said bracket are bent into downwardly offset U shape yokes or hooks 93, the vertical portions of which are corrugated as at 94 in Fig. 1 for engagement with the corrugations 9| before mentioned. Top and bottom lines of welding 95-96 serve to secure the bracket to the arms. The yokes or hooks mentioned receive the top flanges of the center sill members 21-28 as shown in Fig. 4, and act as guides therefor in the relative movement between the center sill and bolster body.

To resist shearing strains in said arms, in their torque resisting functions, I provide between the converging Vertical ilanges of the arm mem, bers 86-81, inner and outer web plates 86 and 91 which are butt welded along their top and bottom edges as at 98-99 to the associated edges of said vertical ilanges as best appears in Fig. 3.

At the outer corners as formed by the junction of theinner ends of the torque armvmembers 86-86 with the diaphragm I8 of the pan I6, I provide gusset plates 96b of substantially atriangular formation. These gusset plates, only one of which appears in Fig. 1, have their right angled edges welded to the edges of the horizontal flange of the associated top torque arm member and to the bent over plate extension wing 66 as well as tothe diaphragm I8 as indicated by the line 96a in Fig. 1. The gusset plates 96 which are disposed with their top surface below the top surface of the torque arm member 86 and member 20 of the pan I6, not only add a further bracing effect between the torque arm members 86 and pan I6 but they serve to provide a convenient portion of the bolster as a whole to' which one end of associated diagonal braces (not shown) of the underframe may be attached.

In the anges 2|22, just outwardly of the plates 3I6I and 49-80 respectively, as well as between the sets of plates'30-3i and Sil-6i respectively are openings H1 for the drainage of water from the interior of the bolster.

From the construction described, itis apparent that the bolster is a welded one and is therefore. free from rivets or bolts.

With the bolster thus made, it forms the equivalent of an integral structure much lighter in weight but stronger and less costly to produce than either a cast or a riveted structure.

Furthermore, the reduced weight oi the body bolster greatly aids in contributing to a reduction in the weight of the car with which it is to be used. 1

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof. as well as to the sequence and manner ofthe steps in installing and welding the parts in place, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereby except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A body bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and avcompression member, the edges of said members of the pan being welded together, there'being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, and a bracing arrangement in each pan adjacent said diaphragm openings, each arrangement comprising a plurality of transverse and longitudinal plates welded to each other and to.parts of the associated pans.

2. A bolster of the kind described comprising a. pair of substantially matched metallic pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a

top tension member and a bottom compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being Welded together, there being sill openings in said diaphragms, upright transversely extending stiiiener plates rising from the compression member into substantially the plane of the top of said openings, and means providing a box-like section between the top ends of the stitiener plates and the tension members and portions of the diaphragm above said openings.

3. A bolster oi the kind described comprising a pair oi substantially matched metallic pans, eachy including a shear resisting diaphragm, a top tension member and a bottom compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, a bracing arrangement in each pan adjacent said diaphragm openings, each arrangement comprising a plurality of transverse and longitudinal plates welded to each other and to parts of the associated pans, and means welded to certain of the plates of the bracing arrangement in both pans providing guides for the center sill to extend through said openings.

4. A bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic pans. each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a top tension member and a bottom compression mem-g ber, the edges of said members of the pans being welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, with the openings in one diaphragm aligned with those in the other diaphragm, stiiening means in each pan adjacent the openings therein and including a set of upright transverse stiifener plates, a top plate thereon and a second set of longitudinal stilener plates welded to said top plate and having parts welded to certain of said transverse stiffener plate.;`- and forming a box-like structure between the daphragms above the openings therein.

5. A bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a top tension member and a bottom compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, with the openings in one diaphragm aligned with those in the other diaphragm, stiiening means in each pan adjacent the openings therein and'including a pair of innerand outer upright transversely extending stiffening plates, a plate secured to the top edges of said stiffener plates, upright longitudinal stiiening members between and welded to said tension member and said top plate. said longitudinal stlffener members including depending hook-like end portions engaged with and welded to said outer upright stiffener plates.

6. A bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic' pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being Welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, with the openings in one diaphragm aligned with those in the other diaphragm, stiiening means in each pan adjacent the openings therein and including stiflening plates welded in place, means welded to the stiiiener plates of both pans and to the compression members thereof respectively, and a center sill guide bar welded to certain only of the stiiiener plates of both pans. l

7 A bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic pans, each including a shear resistingl diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, with the openings in one diaphragm aligned with those in the other diaphragm, stiiening means in each pan adjacent the openings therein and including a set of transversely extending upright stiffener plates, a top plate welded thereto and longitudinally extending stifener ribs between the top plates and tension members and Welded to the same, a sill supporting member secured to the compression members of both pans between the stiiener plates of each set thereof and Welded thereto, and a sill guide bar Welded to certain of the stiffener plates of both pans and to the top plates of both pans.

8. A bolster of the kind described comprising a pair of substantially matched metallic pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the edges of said members of the pans being welded together, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, with the openings in one diaphragm aligned with those in the other diaphragm, stiffening means in each -pan adjacent the openings therein and including a set of transversely disposed welded upright stitiener plates, a top plate Welded thereto and longitudinally extending stiiener ribs between the top plates and tension members and welded to the same, and including end portions welded to certain of the upright stiiiener plates.

9. In a bolster of the kind described a pair of substantially matched pans each including a diaphragm and tension and compression members, a st iifening plate welded to each of said members at the junction of said members with said diaphragms, said stiilening plates abutting along their free edges and spacing the edges of said tension and compression members apart so as to coact in defining grooves therebetween bottomed by marginal parts of said stiffening plates, and lines of -welding in said grooves connecting said tension and compression members to each 4other and to their respective stiiening plates which are also connected together thereby.

10. A bolster of the kind described including a body comprising a pair of substantially matched metal pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the longitudinal edges of said members of one pan being welded to the like edges of the members of the other pan, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, and means secured to and providing a bracing arrangement for the central portion of the body and formed to provide passageways connecting the sill openings in both dlaphragms.

11. A bolster of the kind described including a body comprising a pair of substantially matched metal pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the longitudinal edges of said members of one pan being welded to the like edges of the members of the other pan, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm and each opening having inner and outer upright edges and top and bottom horizontal edges, means secured in and providing a bracing arrangement for the central portion of the body and formed to provide passageways connecting said sill openings, and means welded to the outer surface of each diaphragm and partially overlapping the top end portion of both sill openings in each dlaphragm.

12. A bolster of the kind described including a body comprising a pair of substantially matched metal pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the longitudinal edges of said members of one pan being welded to the llkeedges of the members of the other pan, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm and each opening having inner and outer upright edges and top and bottom horizontal edges, means secured in and providing a bracing arrangement for the central portion of the body and formed to provide passageways connecting said sill openings, means welded to the outer surface of the diaphragm of one pan and partially overlapping the top end portion of both sill openings in said diaphragm, and means arranged perpendicular and welded to said diaphragm substantially flush with the outer edges of said openings in said diaphragm and adapted for the attachment of associated torque arms thereto.

13. A bolster of the kind described including a body comprising a pair of substantially matched metal pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the longitudinal edges of said members of one pan being Welded to the like edges of the members of the other pan, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm, means secured to and providing a bracing arrangement for the central portion of the body, said means being formed to provide passageways connecting the sill openings in both diaphragms and being further formed in its bottom to provide a king pin recess that registers with an opening formed in the abutting edges of the compression members of both pans, and means providing a center plate secured to the bottom surface of said compression members of both pans and having an opening therein that registers with said opening in said compression members and said king pin recess.

14. A bolster of the kind described including a body comprising a pair of substantially matched metal pans, each including a shear resisting diaphragm, a tension member and a compression member, the longitudinal edges of said members of one pan being welded to the like edges of the members of the other pan, there being a pair of laterally spaced sill openings in each diaphragm 15 and each opening having inner and outer up- O'I'HO C. DURYEA. 

